Helene Duhamel won the race for State Senate, District 32 (partial city coverage not verified) in the November 3, 2026 election, with 3,317 votes (52.4%), according to unofficial results from South Dakota Secretary of State.
Jeff Shelton received 3,015 votes (47.6%). The margin was 302 votes, or 4.8 percentage points.
The election office reported 671 of 671 precincts reporting. In all, 6,332 votes were counted in this race. Helene Duhamel is the incumbent.
Full results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helene Duhamel (won) | Republican | 3,317 | 52.4% |
| Jeff Shelton | Democratic | 3,015 | 47.6% |
What the job involves
Members of the state legislature write and vote on state laws and the state budget, including school funding and the rules cities and counties work under.
What Helene Duhamel said during the campaign
- Taxes and housing: She says the legislature can help residents through lower taxes and reduced red tape that increases consumer costs, and says the state can help first-time homebuyers and prioritize affordable housing. (Helene Duhamel for Senate)
- Water security: She identifies water security as her major issue for western South Dakota and says the state should plan for future water needs. (Helene Duhamel for Senate)
What happens next
These results are unofficial. They become final when election officials certify them at the canvass, and totals can still change a little as remaining mailed and provisional ballots are counted.
Every race in Rapid City is on our election results page. More about Helene Duhamel is on their candidate page.
